A Guide to Using Horseshoe Studs
By Gareth Quarterman DipW.C.F
Studs are a metal device that are screwed into the bottom of your horse’s shoes. By protruding
from the bottom of the shoe, they can help to provide traction over muddy or deep footing, such as
sand or mud, and help your horse jump or move more confidently.
How to choose the correct stud should be easy.
The first time you ride your horse with studs you should fit him with some small road studs and let
him walk around un-mounted for a while to get used to the new feeling (this does not mean turn
him out in a field with studs in – horses should never be turned out in studs!)
Here are some simple rules for using studs. These relate to ‘screw-in’ studs rather than ‘drivein’ studs because screw-in studs are by far the most commonly used types.
Do’s:
•
ALWAYS use studs in pairs, with one on each side of the hoof
•
ALWAYS use small, blunt studs on the inside of your horse’s shoes. A large, pointed stud
can injure so always use the correct stud for the situation
•
ALWAYS put protective leg boots on your horse when riding in studs
•
ALWAYS put studs in just before you will be riding and remove them as soon as possible
afterwards
•
ALWAYS use the smallest stud you can, considering the conditions. While slipping is
dangerous for your horse, a little slipping is much better than jarring your horse’s legs with
huge studs. Try to find a stud that allows a little slipping, but not so much that your horse’s
balance will suffer. Studs should be selected that will sink fully into the ground; otherwise
they will unbalance the foot
•
ALWAYS try to have someone help you by holding your horse when you are putting studs
in, especially if you will be using a Tee Tap
•
ALWAYS be very careful if you have a horse that is likely to kick out at other horses or
people. If you have such a horse, try to limit the amount of time you use studs
Don'ts:
•
NEVER turn your horse out with studs
•
NEVER leave your horse unattended in a stall with studs
•
NEVER trailer your horse with studs
•
NEVER use studs if your horse is lame
•
NEVER put yourself in a position where a horse with studs in can step on you. It is very
easy to break a toe this way, even in riding boots
Your Stud ‘Toolkit’
Ahead of time, you should assemble the following items:
•
A selection of studs. Remember that depending on the footing, you might not use the
same studs on the inside and outside of your horse’s shoes, or you could use different
studs on the front than the back shoes
•
A horseshoe nail or some type of flat but pointed ‘pick’ to remove stud plugs.
Screwdrivers are generally not suitable as they tend to be too ‘fat’ to fit between the plug
and the shoe
•
A stud hole cleaner. This is used to remove any debris from the stud hole. Some people
use the horseshoe nail for this, but there are many specially designed tools that will work
faster
•
A tap of some type. This is used to clean and sharpen the edges of the threads your
farrier drilled into the stud holes. There are many types on the market. The traditional type
is a Tee Tap or T-Tap, so named be-cause it is the shape of the letter ‘T’. Recently round
‘Safety’ Taps have become available on the market. These are safer because if your horse
steps down on a Tee Tap it can cause an injury whereas a Safety Tap is less likely to
cause a problem because it is flat and shaped like a hoof. There are some self-tapping
studs starting to come onto the market that should remove the need for a separate Tap,
however it is still a good idea to keep a Tap on hand
•
•
•
A spanner. This is used to tighten and then remove the studs. You can use a regular
adjustable wrench found in most toolkits, although over time the wrench may wear the
edges of your studs, making them difficult to use. There are also a number of special
wrenches made specifically for horse studs. Even if you use a purpose-made wrench, it is
probably not a bad idea to have an adjustable one too
A box to keep everything in one place! Studs are notorious for disappearing at the
smallest opportunity. If you don’t capture them in a box, you will never find them again next
time you need them
Rags or a small sponge. For removing oil or grease from your studs (assuming you oiled
and stored them correctly the last time you used them) Studs are definitely slippery when
greasy and will jump on this opportunity as part of their escape plan
The following items are also nice to have:
•
A magnet for your arm or a magnetic dish. This is useful for keeping steel studs in one
place while you work and will reduce the possibility of your studs escaping
•
Rubber or cotton plugs or blanks. Most people put plugs in their stud holes when they
are not using studs. This keeps the holes clean. There are rubber and cotton plugs and
also metal stud blanks. If you use cotton plugs, soak them in oil to prevent the holes
rusting. Stud blanks are metal screw-in plugs
•
Stud cleaner and lubricant. Your studs will last much longer if you clean and grease
them after use. Many people wrap them in an oily rag for storage, or you can use a product
such as CRC spray. Pretty much any-thing that repels water will work. There are also
specially made stud cleaners available on the market
Putting your Studs in.
ALWAYS BE SAFE WHEN FITTING STUDS!
•
Ideally you should take a lesson from your farrier or trainer before attempting to put studs in
yourself
•
Make sure you and your horse practice at home, until you can put them in and take them
out easily, before using them at a competition
•
If your horse has plugs in his stud holes you will need to remove these first with your
horseshoe nail or other implement
HINT: It is a good idea to take the plugs out, clean the holes and replace the plugs before you
leave for a competition. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to remove a plug
when you only have 10 minutes until you should be warming up your horse!
•
•
•
Next you will need to clean out the stud hole with whatever tool you have chosen
Make sure that you remove all traces of dirt and debris. Putting studs into dirty stud holes
can ruin the threads on your horse’s shoes
Then (unless you are using self-tapping studs) you will need to tap the stud hole with a
Safety Tap or Tee Tap. Unless you have a very quiet, experienced horse and are
experienced with studs, we recommend using a Safety Tap. Basically, you will place the
end of the Tap into the stud hole and screw it into the hole. Another benefit of a Safety Tap
is that you can’t screw the Tap in too far and potentially bruise your horse’s hoof, which is
possible with a Tee Tap
HINT: Self-tapping studs are a new option where the stud has a special thread that will clean the
threads on your horse’s shoes as you insert it. Because they are new, these studs are more
expensive than traditional studs, but as long as you don’t lose them, they could be a great time
saving investment
•
•
•
Now you can insert the studs. Begin by screwing them in by hand and finally make them
nice and tight with your wrench. Be sure that you don’t over-tighten them so that you can’t
undo them after you finish riding
When you are finished riding, remove the studs, plug the holes and store the studs in some
form of oily rag or plastic bag with a water repellent – any kind of oil, grease or CRC will
work. Make sure you keep some rags or a sponge on hand to wipe up the grease
Put your studs back in their box – if you don’t they WILL escape!!!
And don’t forget to have a great ride
www.nzequinehoofcare
Different Types of Studs –
Grass tips - These are narrow, pointed studs that dig into the hard, dry ground and help prevent
slipping. You don’t want large, bullet-type studs for this because they would be too jarring to the
horse’s legs. It’s important to note that studs that are sharp and pointed-like grass tips should only
be used on the outside of the shoe.
Pointed bullets - These are recommended if you’re choosing a limited amount of studs for your kit
but want variety. They are helpful when a little rain has fallen on hard, dry ground, creating a slick,
greasy layer on top of the firm base. These studs have large, sharp points and, once again, only
use them on the outside of the horse’s shoes, with road studs on the inside.
Road studs - These are small bullets and should be used on the insides of the shoe. Always use
small, blunt studs on the inside of your horse’s shoes. A large, pointed stud can cut him.
Medium bullets - These are slightly larger than road studs and are useful to have on hand when
the footing is good, but firm, for a moderate amount of traction.
Square studs or bullets - These are best for deep, muddy ground